The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is set to overhaul the accreditation processes of educational institutions and professional degree programs.
Dr. Zia UlQayyum, Executive Director of HEC, emphasized the commitment to enhance quality through consultations with Accreditation Councils during a meeting organized by the Quality Assurance Agency at the Commission Secretariat.
The meeting addressed accreditation challenges faced by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and discussed the potential introduction of new courses and credit hours. Numerous academicians and representatives from accreditation bodies participated, including Prof. Syed AnwarulHassan Gilani, Prof. Dr. Jamil Ahmad Khan, Dr. Moeed Wasim Yusuf, Prof. Dr. Najma Najam, and Dr. Shafay Shamail.
Rector Dr. Moeed Wasim Yusuf, along with other academicians, highlighted the need for clarity and unified regulations in accreditation, noting that current restrictions may hinder progress. They advocated for facilities optimization based on capacity and emphasized evaluator training for consistent practices.
Dr. Shafay and Dr. Jamil revealed plans to update accreditation manuals and implement evaluator training to automate and simplify processes. They expressed optimism about improvements through continuous committee meetings and stakeholder collaboration.
Dr. Farida Anjum explained the consultative procedure for adding courses to university curricula, involving detailed discussions with stakeholders. Prof. Dr. AnwarulHassan Gilani stressed the importance of flexibility in maintaining quality standards, highlighting HEC’s commitment to stakeholder consultation.
Dr. Zia UlQayyum called for cooperation among accreditation bodies to elevate the quality of higher education. He proposed mentorship among councils and emphasized the need for dynamic policy reviews with input from all stakeholders. Dr. Zia advocated for resource sharing and questioned the necessity of hard journals given the availability of the HECfunded Digital Library.
HEC plans to hold a consultative meeting with all accreditation bodies to thoroughly review accreditation processes and frameworks. This initiative aims to align and strengthen standards across the board. Dr. Zia also announced targeted training programs for accreditors, ensuring preparedness to maintain educational quality and compliance, especially when frameworks are updated.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Asif Hussain, Director of the Quality Assurance Agency, HEC.